The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-12-16

time. A glance showed us that the local
freight had not yet arrived. Without the
slightest hesitation Andrews ran a few
hundred yards past the station, and or
dered the switch tender TO arrange the
switch so as to throw us on the side track;
then we backed out on 1t, stopping on the
west side OF the station, and almost di.
rectly alongside OF the Rome passenger
train, then lying on its own track, which
Joined the main line still further north
This train was expecting the coming OF
Fuller's mail, and of course the arrival
of our partial train in the place of the one
they were expecting was matter Of the
greatest interest 20 them. The engineer
stepped over 10 our locomotive and said,
with an oath:
"How is thisi What's up2 Here's their
engine with none OF their men on board. -
Fortunately Andrews was just at hand
and promptly replied, 81 have taken this
train by government authority to run am
munition through TO Gen. Beauregard,
who must have It at once
He waved his hand toward the car in
which we were shut up representing the
powderD, and they inquired no further in
that direction, but simply asked when the
passenger train would be along. Andrews
responded indifferently that he could not
tell exactly, but supposed 1t would not be
a great while, as they were getting out
another train when he left Atlanta. With
this cold comfort they were obliged TO be
contented, and Andrews, leaving the en-
CINE in care of his three comrades, went
into the telegraph Office, which was on
the side Of the depot next us, and asked,
"What is the matter with the local
freight that it is not here?" He was
shown telegraph dispatch for Fuller,
ordering him to wait at this point for its
coming-an indication that it was not
very far away. This was the only infor-
nation vouehsafed to us by the manage
ment OF the road during the whole of that
eventful dayl
Andrews returned to HIS engine, and
stood there, or walked about on the end
of the platform near by during the tedious
moments of waiting. He did not seek to
enter into conversation with any one, but
quietly answered any questions asked.
He appeared distracted and a little
anxious, as was natural for one running
an express ammunition train, on which
the safety of an army might depend! 1t
was fortunate that his real and assumed
Brown, Knight and Wilson attended to
their engine, seeing that all was in good
order with reasonable head of steam,
and refrained, as far as they could, from
any kind Of conversation, answering all
demands in monosyllables. Their position
during this enforced stop was embarrass-
ing, but far less painful than ours in the
box car. We could hear low murmurs
IL \,
ton, and alongside another train, and
could hear the tread of feet; but we could
not learn why we did not press on. A
thousand conjectures will spring up at
such times; and the possibilities of our
situation were ample enough for all kinds
of imagining. We had a tolerably high
estimate of our fighting power, and did
not doubt that we could capture any or
binary train, or the usual crowd around
village station But TO be shut up in
the dark, while-for aught we knew-the
enemy might be concentrating an over
whelming force against us, was exceed
ingly trying, and put the implicit conf
dence we had in our leader to Il very Sc
we're test. There was no precaution An
drews had neglected-probably because
he trusted so fully in his own marvellous
keenly afterward No lieutenant was ap.
pointed. One who could have taken
charge of the men, leaving Andrews free
to plan and give general directions, would
have been support to us now and help
to all of us later. With George u. vii.
son or some other of the soldiers as au-
thorized second, the force would have
been in better fighting trim, and, what is
nf cfil An Il
have felt more free to order the capture
of any pursuing train. But at present
we had nothing to do but wait till the
road was cleared for us.
Before suspense became intolerable the
whistle of an approaching train was
heard, and the local freight rumbled up
to the eastern side of the depot and
stopped on the main track Andrews
made haste to begin the inevitable con-
versation. He went over and spoke to
the conductor, telling him to pull his
train, which was quite long, on down the
road so that we might get ont of the
switch and proceed on our way, adding
the same powder story This conductor
saw that Andrews was treated with
marked Difference by the people about the
station, and did not hesitate TO believe his
story and obey the order. But before he
had moved his train Andrews noticed a
red flag on the hind car, and at once ex-
claimed; ''What does this mean? 1 am
ordered to get this powder through to
BeaurePard at the earliest possible mo-
ment, and now you are signaling for an
other train on the trackr' No doubt An
drews felt all the vexation he exp. essed.
The man said he was very sorry, but it
could not be helped; and then he gave the
reason, which was a startling piece of in
telligence Mitchell had captured Hunts
vile and was said to be advancing east
ward toward Chattanooga by forced
marches; and as they had no force to re-
sist him, they were running everything
out of Chattanooga, and had put large
extra train on the track to get the rolling
stock, as well as the goods, out of the
way. Andrews thanked him for the in
formation, and told him to go long way
down the road so that the extra would
have room enough to get by, adding, II
must be off the very first minute that is
possible" The conductor made no OBJ
lection, but asked, 'What will you do
about Mitchell at Huntsville?" Andrews
replied: 81 do not believe the. story.
Mitchell would not be fool enough to run
down there, but if he is, Beauregard will
soon sweep him out of the road. At any
rate have my orders" The train was
pulled down the road, and the tedious pro,
cess of waiting continued.